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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 Page 7 ~LETTER TO THE EDITOR~ SAUGUS VETERAN APPEALS FOR PUBLIC HELP ON SPONSORING LATEST CIVIL WAR CEMETERY LOT PROJECT AT RIVERSIDE CEMETERY Dear Editor: I hope this letter fi nds all Saugus residents and their families well. It is a hard time for all of us and hopefully, they will have a vaccine soon for COVID-19. As many of you know, I take care of the Veteran cemeteries here in Saugus and one of my fi nal projects is to have curbing installed around the Civil War cemetery lot. Curbing will prevent people from running over the lawn and sprinkler heads damaging both on a yearly basis. Because I can’t do any raffl es or fund raising this year with the pandemic, I am reaching out to you for possible donations to help out with the curbing and maintenance of our veterans lots here at Riverside Cemetery. WHEELABRATOR | FROM PAGE 5 “Obviously, there’s a limit when you start having nonproductive conversation because there’s too many people in the room,” he said. Ayube said there were a few candidates he would have liked to have seen on the subcommittee. He mentioned Selectman Debra Panetta as a candidate “who comes to mind.” Panetta has been vocal in her interest in serving on the subcommittee, stressing her three decades of experience in working on Wheelabrator-related issues. She told the Health Board she was “very disappointed” at a meeting back in March when Cogliano presented his recommended list of 10 members. All but one candidate recommended by Cogliano – former School Committee Member Elizabeth Marchese – was not on the list approved this week. “We can only have two selectmen,” Heff ernan said. Board adds a citizen environmentalist Veteran Health Board Member Joia Cicolini was unable to attend the meeting because of work-related training. She sent a letter praising the panel’s composition and the recommended members, but suggested a slight expansion. “If my fellow board members are in agreement and feel appropriate, I would like to see consideration of an additional member from one of the environmental groups,” Cicolini wrote. I know this is a hard time fi - nancially for everyone. If you can help out, that would be great. But if you can’t, I understand and thank you for previous donations. I also wanted to let you know that because of your earlier donations, the Saugus Veterans cemeteries were recognized by Care Dimensions and on a national level by the Sons of the Union Soldiers of the Civil War. We were presented with the National Founders Award in August of last year in Cleveland, Ohio. You can watch the video that was made by googling (Gordon Shepard Riverside Cemetery Saugus MA). Scroll down to (Riverside Cemetery, YouTube Kevin Tucker, posted Aug. 15, 2019). In the video, you will be able Two other members agreed. “I think we do need to have an environmentalist committee member there,” Health Board Member Maria Tamagna said. “We do need to have open lines of communication with Wheelabrator…the environmental people in town need to be heard,” she said. Ayube suggested adding Jackie Mercurio, a Saugus resident who has been active with several local environmental groups and somebody who could “add some more diversity of thought.” Tamagna said she likes the idea of adding Mercurio to the subcommittee because “she doesn’t have an interest in one particular committee, yet, she is an environmentally cautious citizen.” She called Mercurio “a good fi t.” Mercurio is the daughter of the late Pam Harris – a longtime Board of Health member and active environmentalist who was a staunch critic of Wheelabrator on many plant-related issues. Mercurio has been a passionate opponent of the trash-to-energy plant. Heffernan and Tamagna both voted to support Ayube’s motion. Members Geraldine Gatchell and Cicolini were absent from the meeting, so the vote carried, 3-0. Ayube, who is also a Precinct 7 Town Meeting member, had mentioned that the board received letters of interest from people who don’t live in Saugus. “Their comments don’t fall on WHEELABRATOR | SEE PAGE 12 to see what we have been able to accomplish over the many years with your support. Some of our improvements over the years are curbing around the large Veterans lot, three custom fl ag poles, green grass due to three sprinkler systems, pavers installed around the columbarium, walkways, and pavers around the flagpole. Last year (2019), 26 new marble markers and posts were installed in the Civil War Lot along with eight cannon balls and of course the yearly maintenance of the lawn, fl ags and fl owers. Hopefully, you will be proud of what your donations have accomplished. I know I am. So, please watch the video and enjoy and remember no donation is too small. Stay well, stay healthy. Thank you for your support. Make checks payable to Civil War Restoration and send them to: Gordon Shepard 26 Waban St. Saugus, MA. 01906 Sincerely, Gordon Shepard SALES • RENTALS • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT VARADA PROPERTIES service with integrity Serving Greater Boston Since 2008 FOR SALE $989,900 TWO-FAMILY PROPERY westside • prime location 8 ELSIE STREET • MALDEN INCOME POTENTIAL 617 • 606 • 0172

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